Illustration of rest
- 1 whole
- 2 half
- 3 quarter
- 4 eighth
- 5 sixteenth
1
2
a
: freedom from activity or labor
a 10-minute rest period
needed some rest and relaxation
b
: absence of motion
an object in a state of rest
c
: the repose of death
3
a
: a place for resting or lodging
found their rest under a shade tree
b
: a place for stopping or breathing (such as a landing between flights of a staircase)
4
: peace of mind or spirit
5
a(1)
: a rhythmic silence in music
(2)
: a character representing such a silence
b
: a brief pause in reading
see also:
rested; resting; rests
1
a
: to get rest by lying down
especially
: sleep
b
: to lie dead
2
: to cease from action or motion : refrain from labor or exertion
needed some time to rest
3
: to be free from anxiety or disturbance
4
: to sit or lie fixed or supported
a column rests on its pedestal
5
a
: to remain confident : trust
cannot rest on that assumption
b
: to be based or founded
the verdict rested on several sound precedents
6
: to remain for action or accomplishment
the answer rests with you
7
of farmland
: to remain idle or uncropped
8
: to bring to an end voluntarily the introduction of evidence in a law case
The defense rests.
1
: to give rest to
rested the horses by the stream
You should rest your eyes.
2
: to set at rest
Rest yourself by the fire.
3
: to place on or against a support
rested the bike in the stand
4
: to cause to be firmly fixed
rested all hope in his child
5
: to desist voluntarily from presenting evidence pertinent to (a case at law)
rester
noun
: a projection or attachment on the side of the breastplate of medieval armor for supporting the butt of a lance
Examples of rest in a Sentence
Noun (1)
the coming weekend will provide some much needed rest
after a long day, I lay down on the couch for a little rest before dinner
Verb
We will not rest until we discover the truth.
The workers were resting in the shade.
He is resting comfortably after his ordeal.
She went to her room to rest for a while.
The coach canceled practice to rest his team.
He rested his horse before continuing the journey.
You should rest your eyes after all that reading.
The pitcher needs to rest his arm.
The spoon was resting in the cup.
The house rests on a concrete foundation.
Noun (3)
can you hand me the rest of those papers?
Recent Examples on the Web
Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2026
At the same time, your body burns fewer calories at rest.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 June 2026
Usa Today Network, USA Today, 10 June 2026
Its thin batter of milk, eggs, flour, sugar and butter rests for up to 48 hours before baking in a scorching-hot oven.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for rest
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
The Dodgers considered bringing in a spot starter, manager Dave Roberts said, in order to keep the full rotation on extra rest.
—Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2026
At the same time, your body burns fewer calories at rest.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 June 2026
Verb
Long before the United States declared independence from King George III, generations of Savannahians were laid to rest at Colonial Park Cemetery, a burial ground that witnessed the colonial era, the Revolution, epidemics and the city’s early growth.
—Usa Today Network, USA Today, 10 June 2026
Its thin batter of milk, eggs, flour, sugar and butter rests for up to 48 hours before baking in a scorching-hot oven.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for rest
Cite this Entry
“Rest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rest. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rest
1 of 3 noun2
a
: freedom from activity
b
: a state marked by lack of motion or activity
3
: a place for resting or lodging
4
a
: a silence in music equal in time to a note of the same name
b
: a character standing for such a silence
5
: something used for support
a head rest
rest
2 of 3 verb1
2
: to not take part in work or activity
3
: to be free from anxiety or disturbance
4
: to place or be placed for or as if for support
5
a
: to be based or founded
b
: to fix or be fixed in hope or confidence
rested their hopes on their children
6
: to stop presenting evidence in a law case
the defense rests
rest
3 of 3 noun
: something that is left over or behind : remainder
ate the rest of the soup
Medical Definition
rest
1 of 3 noun1
: a state of repose or sleep see bed rest
2
: cessation or temporary interruption of motion, exertion, or labor
rest from hard physical effort
a ten-minute rest period
3
: a bodily state (as that attained by a fasting individual lying supine) characterized by minimal functional and metabolic activities
the patient must have complete rest
4
: the part of a partial denture that rests on an abutment tooth, distributes stresses, and holds the clasp in position
5
: a firm but moldable cushion used to raise or support a portion of the body during surgery
a kidney rest
rest
2 of 3 intransitive verb1
: to get rest by lying down
especially
: sleep
2
: to cease from action or motion : refrain from labor or exertion
: to give rest to
rest your eyes
rest
3 of 3 noun
: a mass of surviving embryonic cells or of cells misplaced in development
most tumors derived from embryonic rests are benign—Shields Warren
Shields WarrenLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
